- 竹篮打水一场空 zhúlándǎshuǐyīchǎngkōng all in vainDrawing water with a bamboo basket; to struggle only for it all to come to nothing or be a complete failure.
- 竹篮打水 zhúlándǎshuǐ wasted effortusing a wicker basket to draw water; a metaphor for all one's efforts being in vain
- 竹篮儿打水 zhúlánrdǎshuǐ (xiehouyu) to labor in vain; all in vainDrawing water with a bamboo basket; used as a metaphor for a wasted effort or coming away empty-handed.
- 竹篮打水，一场空 zhúlándǎshuǐyīchángkōng wasted effortUsing a wicker basket to draw water; a metaphor for all one's efforts being in vain.
